Lore

Father Gascoigne is a Hunter who is on the brink of beasthood.

Father Gascoigne is a hunter of beasts operating in and around the city of Yharnam. In the world of Bloodborne; "Father" is a title used for clerics in a foreign land, and there is no such rank in the Healing Church, and yet Gascoigne clearly goes by that title. This may be because he came to Yharnam from a foreign land, like the player character, perhaps as a patient seeking treatment, or a religious acolyte following the scent of miracles.

Whether raised in Yharnam or coming from a foreign land, Gascoigne would eventually join the Healing Church hunters to take on the onus of the hunt. Perhaps when he joined he was motivated by glory and fame, emulating the ancient Holy Blades; a line of heroes dating back to the very early age of honor and chivalry.

When hunting Gascoigne was paired with a quiet and taciturn old hunter known as Henryk. Henryk wore a unique yellow garb that protected against Darkbeasts and favoured throwing knives as a means of distracting attackers and keeping them at bay. Together they were a gallant and fierce duo, perhaps Henryk acting as the brains of the operation and Gascoigne as the brawn.

While Henryk wore his unique yellow garb, Gascoigne favoured the black robes of the Healing Church. These Church Hunters wore the Holy Shawl of the Church proudly on their backs, and focused on prevention of the scourge by disposing of victims, and even potential victims, before signs of sickness manifest themselves.

From all accounts Gascoigne and Henryk were powerful and successful hunters. Their fame must have spread, and they must have garnered admirers. Their description as gallant may not only refer to their bravery but also a certain charming attentiveness; a chivalry towards women. There was one women in particular who caught Gascoigne's eye: Viola.

The bright-red brooch is a jewel made of a blood droplet, inscribed with the name Viola. It was given to her by a hunter who clearly found this gem while on the hunt, and set it aside for her.

Gascoigne gave this brooch to Viola, perhaps during their courtship, and she continued to wear it through the birth of their first and second daughters. Gascoigne's garb tells us that he would eventually part ways from the Healing Church. We can only speculate as to the reason for this, but perhaps it had something to do with the family he had begun. The life of a hunter is inescapably dangerous, and while it may be fine for a young man without cares and responsibilities to put his life on the line each night, a man like Gascoigne with a wife, and two young daughters must be there for those he loves. Perhaps by calling himself Father Gascoigne, he is making a play on words; as Father to his two daughters he is giving himself a new title, something to separate him from the Church, something to remember his responsibility.

If not because of his parenthood and responsibilities, perhaps Gascoigne parted ways with the Church when he discovered the truth; that the beasts he had slaughtered were people just like him, even hunters who had served with the same fervor he did.

"Beasts all over the shop…
You'll be one of them, sooner or later…"
- Father Gascoigne

This truth may have eaten away at Gascoigne, such that he could no longer do the Church's bidding. The Holy Shawl he had once worn proudly around his neck became dingy and unkempt, the black robes pungent and unwashed.

Gascoigne appears to have been a loving father. His youngest daughter will tell the player:

"I love you almost as much as mum and dad and granddad!"

Showing that there was love in their household. But his nights out on the hunt and the stench of the blood had taken a toll on Gascoigne.

Mature blood cocktail that releases a pungent odor when thrown that attracts blood-thirsty beasts.
A precious tool in sadly short supply.
In Yharnam, they produce more blood than alcohol. as the former is the more intoxicating.
- Pungent Blood Cocktail description

The blood of Yharnam was no ordinary blood. In his bloodlust, his family would find that Gascoigne sometimes forgot them altogether. To remind Gascoigne of his love for them, Viola would play him a lullaby from a small music box, a song shared by Viola and Gascoigne. Within this music box there is a small scrap of paper containing an old message, signed by Viola and Gascoigne. The Young Girl tells the player that this music box plays one of Gascoigne's favorite songs. Perhaps this box was played for Gascoigne as he grew up, or perhaps the small message within contains a writ or promise the two made to each other. When hearing the tune, even when he is all but lost to beasthood, Gascoigne will still pause, being stunned by whatever it reminds him of, clearly a powerful connection to his family.

Perhaps he never stopped, or perhaps he returned later when he could no longer keep away from the pungent blood that eats away at him, telling his wife and children he was doing it to protect them, but either way; Gascoigne continued to hunt. With gray hair and his old attire, now only reminiscent of the Church's gear, having been away for so long, Gascoigne and Henryk once again began to join the hunt.

"What's that smell?
The sweet blood, oh, it sings to me.
It's enough to make a man sick…" [laughs]
- Father Gascoigne

But no matter their pasts, beasts are no more than beasts. Some choose take up their axe to play the part of executioner. Gascoigne hunted each night, and eventually he began to fall apart, until one day he didn't come home. Racing against time, before darkness overtook the land, Viola went out to find her husband, leaving her two daughters to look after the house. What happened next is unclear. It is strongly implied that in her haste, Viola forgot the music box and without it, Gascoigne was unable to recognize her, turning on and then murdering her. We find Viola's body nearby where Gascoigne feverishly hacks apart corpses, muttering to himself in a delirium. Gascoigne appears to have lost the ability to differentiate between friend and foe, turning on the player, another hunter, when they approach him.

The ensuing battle reveals just how far down the path of beasthood Gascoigne has traveled. He will eventually almost complete the transformation into a scourge beast, finally letting go of the willpower that bound him and revealing his "true form". If one were to listen carefully after defeating him in his beastform, you can hear Gascoigne scream "forgive me", as if in his final moments he has remembered all that he has lost, and just what he has done.

Eileen will congratulate the player later on, on having taken care of Gascoigne:

"You must have killed Gascoigne as well then.
He was falling apart… I'm sure it had to be done.
But try to keep your hands clean… The Hunter should hunt Beasts.
Leave the hunting of Hunters, to me."

It would seem that whether by the player's hand or someone else's, Gascoigne was too far gone to be redeemed. A once powerful figure, brought low.

Sources

Tiny Music Box
A small music box received from a young Yharnam girl.
Plays a song shared by her mother and father.
Inside the lid is a small scrap of paper, perhaps an old
message. Two names can be made out, however faintly.
Viola and Gascoigne.

Red Jewelled Brooch
A woman's bright-red brooch, engraved with the name Viola.
Perhaps the jewel is a gift from a hunter. Use to change into
a droplet blood gem that fortifies any weapon.
With the proper workshop tool, various weapons can be
fortified.

Henryk's Hunter Cap
Hunter's hat worn by Henryk, the old hunter.
The taciturn old hunter Henryk was once partners
with Father Gascoigne, and although they were a
fierce and gallant duo, their partnership led to Henryk's
tragically long life.
Henryk's unique yellow garb is resistant to bolt and
will be of great help to any hunter who has inherited
the onus of the hunt.

Gascoigne's Cap
Hunter attire worn by Father Gascoigne.
Similar to hunter garb created at the workshop,
only these are tainted by a pungent beastly stench
that eats away at Gascoigne.
"Father" is a title used for clerics in a foreign land,
and there is no such rank in the Healing Church.

Gascoigne's Garb
Hunter attire worn by Father Gascoigne.
The dingy scarf is a Holy Shawl and symbol of
the Healing Church, from which Gascoigne would
eventually part ways.
"Father" is a title used for clerics in a foreign land,
and there is no such rank in the Healing Church.

Hunter Axe
One of the trick weapons of the workshop, commonly used on the hunt.
Retains the qualities of an axe, but offers a wider palette of attacks by transforming.
Boasts a heavy blunt attack, leading to high rally potential.
No matter their pasts, beasts are no more than beasts.
Some choose this axe to play the part of executioner.

Black Church Garb
Attire of Healing Church Hunters. The Holy Shawl, symbol of
the Healing Church, flutters proudly on their backs.

Most Healing Church hunters are elementary doctors who
understand the importance of early prevention of the
scourge, achieved by disposing of victims, and even potential
victims, before signs of sickness manifest themselves.

Their black attire is synonymous with fear, and that peculiar
Yharnam madness.

Radiant Sword Hunter Badge
One of the badges crafted by the Healing Church

The radiant sword indicates the heirs to the will of Ludwig.

These hunters, also known as Holy Blades, are what remains
of an ancient line of heroes that date back to a very early
age of honor and chivalry.

Blood Vial
Special blood used in ministration. Restores HP.

Once a patient has had their blood ministered, a unique but
common treatment in Yharnam, successive infusions recall
the first, and are all the more invigorating for it.

In Yharnam, they produce more blood than alcohol, as the
former is the more intoxicating.

Eileen dialogue after the Tomb of Oedon hunter fight:
(Breathing Heavily) "That wasn't necessary of ya.
But you have my thanks."
We made it with our lives… You're not bad at all.
You must have killed Gascoigne as well then.
He was falling apart… I'm sure it had to be done.
But try to keep your hands clean… The Hunter should hunt Beasts.
Leave the hunting of Hunters, to me." (Laughs) (Gives Approval gesture) (Runs away)

Young Girl dialogue:First Encounter:
Who… are you?
I don’t know your voice, but I know that smell… Are you a hunter?
Then please, will you look for my mum?
Daddy never came back from the hunt and she went to find him, but now she’s gone too I’m afraid.
I’m all alone, and scared.

Accept:
Really? Oh, thank you!
My m-mum wears a red jeweled brooch.
It’s so big and.. and beautiful. You won’t miss it.
Oh, I mustn’t forget…
If you find my mum, give her this musicbox.
It plays one of daddy’s favorite songs.
And when daddy forgets us, we play it for him so he remembers.
Mum’s so silly, running off without it!

Talk again:
My mum wears a big red jeweled brooch.
It’s so big and beautiful. You won’t miss it.
Oh, and if you find her, give her this musicbox.
Please, I know you can do it.

Talk again:
Hello, miss/mister hunter.
Still can’t find my mum?
Oh, okay. I can wait. But… isn’t there something I can do?
Maybe mum and dad are stuck out there waiting for me to come and find them.
What do you think miss/mister hunter?

No:
Yes, I see. I can wait.
I won’t be afraid.
I know… I do. The morning always comes.

Tell her about safe place:
Yes, okay! Thank you miss/mister hunter!
I love you almost as much as mum and dad and granddad!